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He had no thought of beauty, wealth, or fame,
A simple rustic boy, and Lycidas his name.

But lately, as the bleating flock he led
At even to the neighbouring fountain's head,
Lo, a bright virgin by the water stood;
He knelt, and hail'd the genius of the flood.
No goddess she, though one of heavenly race;
A crimson hue suffus'd her lovely face.
Oppress'd with shame, her eyes to earth were cast,
She caught her spotless robe, and fled in haste.
Her name Narcissa, Arcas' royal maid,
She at this hour bad sought the cooling shade.
Her garments laid aside, her hair unweav'd,
In the pure spring her beauteous limbs had lav'd.
But in the moment she had left the flood,
To Lycidas, confest, the maiden stood.

Often he wanders to that hallow'd stream,
And stands entranc'd in love's delirious dream;
Or sitting at Orexis' foot, complains
Of pastoral life; but pipe or rural strains
Delight no more. Within his untaught breast
He finds a strange, but not unpleasing guest;
He thinks of nothing but Narcissa's charms,
And burns to clasp the maiden in his arms:
But dares not hope that such elysian joy
Is in reserve for him-a shepherd boy.

A lofty spirit was now approaching us, and the rushing of his wings was like the noise of a cataract. His eyes were piercing as the lightnings, and his gaze could not be endured; yet I perceived that his countenance varied: at this moment it was benevolent, and in the next it threatened destruction. At first it appeared to me that his right hand was flaming, but, on his nearer approach, I perceived that he held in it an avenging sword. In his left hand he carried an olive branch. His wings were distended for flight, but his feet rested on the Thunder-cloud. I hastily inquired of my guide the name of the mighty spirit before us. "It is the genius of the thunder-storm," said he; "he is the terror of the sons of men, when power is given him from above to smite with the sword of Almighty vengeance. Then the palaces of kings, and the cottages of poor men, fall together; the high places are thrown down, and the beautiful city is made a heap of stones. Then the mighty ones of the earth tremble, and perceive that there is a God on the earth. But so great is the divine mercy, that not often will it permit this spirit to go forth a destroyer. Even while he launches the shaft of the rapid lightnings, and calls to the muttering thunders, which then re-echo through the caverns of the earth, and roll along the vault of heaven; even then he is bid to shake the olive over the land; and, so far from injuring mankind, to give them a blessing in the storm. He purifies our atmosphere with the lightning, and destroys the pestilential and unwholesome vapours, whose pestiferous breath would else blight the fruits of the earth, and scatter disease on man and beast."

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THE GENIUS OF THE THUNDER STORM.

He who sitteth above the water-flood,
Earth His footstool, the outstretch'd heavens His
tent,

Who hath remained on His throne a king
For ever and ever.

He bath clothed mine arm with mighty power.
Th' Eternal, high and lifted up, above
The sons of men hath prepar'd the thunder,
And the rapid lightnings.

He filleth His storehouse with the hailstones;
The Lord of hosts mustereth the battle:
The avenging sword, the shield, and the spear,
He giveth unto me.

He commandeth the storm, and I depart;
The black clouds rise above the lofty hills,
And stretch over the vale which lies beneath,
And the rain descendeth.

The ocean rocketh from its lowest bed;
The lightnings enter into the dark cave;
The earth is remov'd from her foundations,

At the voice of the thunders.

The roarings of wild beasts fill the forest:
They who dwell in cities look on each other;
The mariner is afraid at the storm,

And seeketh the haven.
The voice of the Lord calms the elements,
The thunders and lightnings and the rain, cease;
The clouds break and depart, and the earth smiles,

For the tempest is past.

A spirit of benevolent aspect now appeared. Her brow was bound with a wreath of vine leaves, and the juice of the grape stained her temples. She had in one hand a sickle, and in the other a few wheat ears. She was attended by two beautiful spirits, one of whom bore the cornucopia, from which the most rich and luxuriant fruits were continually falling; the other spirit carried no emblems of her office, but her countenance wore a look of angelic loveliness. "Behold," said the sage, "the genius of the Autumn, and adore the beneficent Being who hath commanded her to render the fruits of the earth in their season. All these whom thou seest are but the servants of the Highest; it is theirs to execute the behests only of One far mightier than they are. Therefore, whilst thou admirest and reverencest these beautiful ministers, remember that they are only ministers of Him, who ordaineth both the early and the latter rain, and changeth the times and the Plenty attends upon Autumn, and pours on every hand the blessings of Omnipotence; she points to the folds full of sheep, and to the waving valleys, which stand so thick with corn, that they both laugh and sing. Happiness also is in her train; that chaste happiness, whose smile beameth on the heart when the hungry soul is filled, and the drink of the thirsty faileth not.

The reaper resting in the heat of noon,
Beneath some friendly shade, nor until even
Holds her cool urn i'th' air, and day be gone,
Renews his labour by the friendly moon.

'Tis sweet to see the poor ones pick the grain,
The crumbs which fall from their rich masters'

hands,

Sharers in common with the feather'd train,
They gather not in barns, nor crop the lands;
And yet their heavenly Father doth bestow
Sufficient for their use; he fills their hands
From His own garners: thus His blessings flow
For all mankind, the mighty and the low.

Theirs is the happiness without alloy,
The grateful duties of the harvest done,
Who shout loud carol, and their songs of joy,
Returning from the field, what time the moon
Shines beautiful; the generous master leads
Where the full board his numerous guests employ,
The laugh and joke go round, and pleasure spreads,
Till thankful, they arise, and seek their quiet beds.

The next spirit who approached us was crowned with cypress, and held in her hand an oaken branch, whose withered leaves fell, and strewed her path as she swept along. "This," said the old man, " is the genius of the Falling Leaves. Her countenance, and her employment, are mournful alike. She casts a melancholy and desolate glance on the forests and the green vales, and the beauties of nature fade beneath her awful gaze. Let mankind attend to the lesson which her duties inculcate, and remember that nothing earthly endureth for ever. Neither should they forget, that she only wraps the fields in transient gloom: Spring will return to scatter her blossoms and flowers on the desolate earth. The dreariness of Autumn, and the ravages of Winter, will be repaired by the sweet influence of the vernal sun."

THE GENIUS OF THE FALLING LEAVES.

Hast thou not heard the autumn blast,
Sweep moaningly along,
Like a sad spirit that hath pass'd,
Unblest by the funeral song?

Hast thou not seen, as the cold wind blew,
The star-beam of the night,

Fitfully shining in heaven's deep blue,
Through her curtain of clouds of fleecy white ?
And where lay the pride of the forest tree,
And the lowly shrub that grew around?
The blast which blew so drearily
Had scatter'd their beauty on the ground.
You could not take up one fallen leaf,
And seek to find the parent bough,
Without an impression of strong belief
That all as they lay were equal now.

Before my chill and piercing breath
The tree and shrub alike must wither,
And the Autumn of life, and the blast of death,
Will lay the sons of men together.

And who shall take of the mould'ring clay,

And say of it, this was a king?

For when the spirit hath gone away,

The body is nought but a perishing thing.

The trees, which seem so withered and dead, A spirit of life retain,

And in the Spring they will lift the head,

And blossom forth again.

And the soul who hath pass'd to her transient rest
In hope and in peace with the Giver,
Shall arise at the last to the fields of the blest,
And flourish for ever and ever.

A spirit, severe in countenance, succeeded to the last. Her form was hid in the numerous folds of her dark robe. Extending her bloodless arm, she held towards us a withered branch covered with the hoar frost. "This is Winter," said my guide, "a spirit whose influence is still more withering than that of the last. Observe how languidly the stream flows at her approach; the flowers droop upon their stalks, and the music of the feathered songsters is hushed."

WINTER.

I come not to deform the year,
Nor wasting ruin spread,
Nor cast the freezing snow-storm drear
Upon th' unshelter'd head
Unbid of Him who rules alone

Above, beneath the sky,
The First, the Last, the Eternal One,
Mightier far than I.

He bids me touch the streams that flow,
And bind in icy chains;
At his command I shed the snow,
Which covers all the plains;
And loose the stormy winds that beat
Upon the humble shed,
Where, in his cheerless, rude retreat,
The wanderer makes his bed.

Ye desolate, who shrink beneath
The cold and wintry blast,
Ye feel the bitterness of death,
But soon it will be past.
There is a land of joy and peace,
'Tis where the seraphim sing;
For there the Winter's storm gives place
To an eternal Spring.

"They are gone," said I, in a tone of sorrow: "there is the valley, but its inhabitants are fled." "They are gone," answered the old man; "but let not the lesson they have taught us depart with them. All things are in his hand whose praise they seek;' not a leaf falls to the ground unseen of the Creator. Remember this in the hour of repining and discontent; be grateful for the good bestowed, and patient under the evil inflicted; and learn to perceive, in every occurrence of human life, the directing influence of the God of the Seasons."

Priestgate, Peterborough, October 12, 1827.

THOMAS ROSE.

ORIENTAL CUSTOMS, SCENERY, AND

CEREMONIES.

(From our Indian Correspondent.)

ABOUT five o'clock this afternoon, 10th July, 1826, I took a ride to the banks of the Sungum, now a broad rapid river, though but two weeks ago passable on foot. As

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attended, drove his long pole or poker into the body, which fizzed-when he perceived me turn away in disgust, and sickened by the stench, he laughed. ed. The different castes have all their own mode of making away with the dead.

September 12th, 1826. Captain H. and myself having accepted Mr. M-'s invitation to accompany himself and his brother to the bridge of Neera, the junc

the pile, its face upwards, with the head towards the river. This hearse or litter is made of two long poles of bamboo, with shorter pieces laid across to connect them.

An old woman, among others, was engaged in arranging the fuel; she appeared to put something into the mouth of the deceased: another poured oil close to the head, and there first set fire, then at the feet. They then hurried on the cakes a foot above the body, covering the face, however, with care, and shortly the whole heap was ignited. The coolies, who had brought the fire materials, now, as is their custom, began a terrible squabble about their cowries or shells, 34 or 35 of which make a pice, 72 pices to a rupee. The friends of the deceased sat in a circle a short distance from the pile, and talked. Indeed, all of those employed in this shocking process seemed little affected, saving one old woman, apparently the wife of the departed; she, every now and then, set up a kind of cry, wrung her hands, and then continued her assistance at the pyre. There was something very afflicting in these movements of sorrow, and the feelings they produced were melancholy indeed.

When the young and the gay are cut off in their bloom and their mirth, we feel sadness, and freely shed the tear of regret. But different are the sensations that arise, when we behold haggard age, itself almost within the grave, moaning over the aged partner of its life, especially if the objects be poor and desolate. The rich widow has anxious friends, eager to offer consolation, and to procure the means of enjoyment through the remainder of life: but this poor old decrepit being, having lost the one, perhaps the only one who cared for her, is left a burden to those around her, without hope, without comfort.

When at Colabah, near Bombay, every night we could see the whole opposite strand, Malabar-point, in a blaze, from the number of these human roastings. I once rode up to one; the man who

Company's territories; we set out at five o'clock this morning, ascended the very high Ghauts, over which an excellent road has been constructed, and arrived at Sasoor to breakfast: the distance is about 18 or 20 miles. Mr. M. was ordered on this journey by Mr. Elphinstone, to receive, as his deputy, the Rajah of Satarah, who is now on his way to pay a visit to the governor. Sasoor is the best town I have seen; there is a beautiful temple and a palace, the latter is not occupied.-3 o'clock P. M. we mounted fresh horses, and sat out for Jejuree, 10 miles distant. Arrived there, we encamped in a fine cluster of mango trees, on the borders of a spacious tank. -13th. We set out for the bridge of Neera; our road lay amongst stupendous hills, and the cool breezes rendered the first part of our ride pleasant. It is considered that the climate on this side the Ghauts is much more healthy than at Poonah; for, although the ascent is very great, the descent on the Satarah side is comparatively inconsiderable. At the bridge there is one building, half bungalow, half fort, but we preferred our tents. Neera, during the monsoon, like almost all rivers in India, is broad and rapid; the bridge, which is built of wood, is 185 yards long, and is supported by 56 beams on each side. Towards sun-set we could almost imagine we were near the sea, from the roaring of the water, and the high winds which blew continually. A despatch arrived from Col. Briggs, the resident at the court of the Rajah, stating the number of men, &c. it was necessary to provide for, viz. 50 elephants, 3000 camels, bullocks, tattoos, and horses, and 5000 men; the number, however, turned out to be much less.

The

14th. Bathed in the Neera, and amused ourselves with shooting, this day.-15th. The Rajah's camp could be perceived at the distance of four miles on the other side of the river.-16th. At 2 o'clock this morning the stores, &c. of the Rajah began to pass, and a precious ragamuffin set it was; at five the more orderly part

of the suite crossed; shortly after, the Rajah himself appeared, and drew up on our side of the river, reviewing his troops as they galloped past him. He is a middle-aged little man, and seemed to be as proud of shewing his horse as most other natives. Excepting his body guard, of a hundred horse, clothed in yellow, blue, and white, he has no regular troops. We supply his highness with an army. His cavalry defiled over the bridge one by one; then came his elephants, led horses, and women. The palanquins his women are borne in, are very splendid; the women themselves are never seen. Youth appears the greatest charm in this country; the Rajah's wife, who has already had a daughter, is only 14 years of age. Passing the defilé was the only thing which at all approached our ideas of eastern magnificence; but even this is all show, elephants, and slaves.

We encamped about six miles onwards. The Rajah's banner is attached to a long pole; it is very large, and of a dingy yellow colour; his tents are all surrounded by a canvass wall. At 3 o'clock Mr. M. was introduced to his highness. He was sitting upon a raised sort of dais. You take off your shoes on entering his black majesty's presence: salaam he returns not, but remains cross-legged. It is said, that when sir Lionel Smith went, at the deposition of the former prince, to release this gentleman from the prison in which he had been confined all his life, he did not salaam sir Lionel.

17th. Halted at Jejuree, and encamped; on the road we passed eleven elephants, some very large, some small. They had bells of different sizes attached to them; the music is not very disagreeable. We had our tent pitched under the same beautiful mango trees. The wild peacocks flew around us, and numbers of monkeys were gambolling about on all sides. The young monkey, if alarmed, attaches itself to the belly of the mother, and is thus carried along. Our leave of absence having now expired, we were obliged to say farewell to our friends. We set out by moon-light for Poonah, lost our way, (no unusual circumstance where there are no roads,) descended the lower Ghauts, and grateful were we to find ourselves at Poonah, at nine in the morning, with whole bones.

frison was out; the artillery fired a royal salute. The Rajah rode a very spirited charger, whose neck was ornamented with massive gold chains. On the 20th I went to see the Rajah's camp: at Parbuttee, he, his brother, and favourite boy, were sitting on the cold rock, (with about 100 torches flaming around them,) on their way to pray in the temple on its summit.

On Thursday the 21st, an order being issued, inviting every body to a durbar, or court, at government Bungalow, I attended. The floor of the bungalow was covered with superb Persian carpets, too beautiful almost to tread upon. At the farthest end of the spacious room were placed four chairs satin-covered, upon a raised dais, covered with red cloth with silver fringe. On each side of the room were placed rows of seats, the right hand of the dais for the great (native) men, the left for the Europeans. As the former arrived, they made their salaam to the governor, and took their seats according to rank. In about an hour, the guard of honour saluted.

The salute fired, hundreds of torches threw around their glaring blaze; the mighty yet humble elephants bowed low; and the Rajah of Sattarah, attended by his brother, officers of state, &c. amidst a thousand voices, resounding his rank, and shouting salaam, entered the room, the Rajah having hold of the governor's hand, his brother, the commander-in-chief's. The brother sat in the right-hand chair, his highness next, then the governor, and next the commander-in-chief. Behind stood some who gracefully undulated rich tubes filled with feathers, and a dew of rose - water refreshed the space around; then there were the government servants dressed in red and gold, holding high sticks of gold. I cannot attempt to describe the Rajah's dress: suffice that it was cloth of gold beautifully tinged and minutely figured. In his turban he wore a splendid brooch, round his neck long rows of pearls and precious stones, on his fingers diamonds of a large size, &c. He is a fat, short, common-looking man, chubby cheeked, with large laughing eyes. His brother is a finer looking man than his highness, though not so intelligent. Besides the sword in his hand, which all natives have, he had a shield slung on his back.

Then approached the great men, touching the earth with their right hand, and bending forward. As their salaam is offered, the name and rank of each is